Who is Levi Edwards? Meet the 8 players who could make their Leeds Rhinos debut against Catalans Dragons

With a Coral Challenge Cup semi-final looming three days later, Leeds Rhinos boss Richard Agar will give his young guns an opportunity to show what they can do against Catalans Dragons on Wednesday.
Levi Edwards, in possession, playing for Rhinos under-16s agianst a New South Wales touring side last year. Picture by Craig Hawkhead.Levi Edwards, in possession, playing for Rhinos under-16s agianst a New South Wales touring side last year. Picture by Craig Hawkhead.
Levi Edwards, in possession, playing for Rhinos under-16s agianst a New South Wales touring side last year. Picture by Craig Hawkhead.

Agar's initial 21-man squad for the Betfred Super League fixture at Emerald Headingley includes eight players who could make their Rhinos debut.

Here's an introduction to Rhinos' next generation of talent, who will all be hoping for a chance over the final two months of the season.

Loui McConnell. Picture by Steve Riding.Loui McConnell. Picture by Steve Riding.
Loui McConnell. Picture by Steve Riding.

Date of birth: 1/11/2001.

Previous club: Batley Boys/Dewsbury Moor.

Position: Centre.

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Batley-born Broadbent can play centre, wing or full-back and has senior experience in the Betfred Championship on dual-registration with Featherstone Rovers (three games, two tries) and loan at his hometown club (11 games, three tries). He joined Rhinos’ full-time squad in pre-season and featured in warm-up games agianst Wakefield Trinity and Bradford Bulls.

Loui McConnell.

Date of birth: 21/11/1999.

Amateur club: Methley Warriors/Oulton Vikings.

Position: Loose-forward.

McConnell joined Rhinos’ scholarship in 2014 progressed through the academy ranks before joining the reserve grade squad this year. He has played for England Youth and will join Featherstone Rovers in 2021.

Levi Edwards

Date of birth: 25/12/2003.

Amateur club: Siddal

Position: Second-row.

Edwards impressed for Rhinos’ under-16s last year and is set to join the full-time squad in 2021. Club insiders believe he could be a Super League regular within the next few seasons.

Corey Hall

Date of birth: 7/6/2002.

Previous club: England Warriors.

Position: Outside-back.

Rhinos signed Hall from Wigan Warriors’ academy on a three-year contract ahead of the current campaign. From Sheffield, he also had a spell at Wakefield Trinity and has played for England academy.

James Harrison

Date of birth: 15/6/1996.

Previous club: On loan from Featherstone Rovers.

Position: Second-row/prop.

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Harrison - son of ex-Great Britain forward and Salford coach Karl Harrison - is a Drighlington product who established himself in the Championship at Batley Bulldogs before joining Featherstone Rovers last year. Leeds have been monitoring him for several seasons and his current loan spell is an opportunity to show what he can do in a full-time environment.

Jarrod O’Connor.

Date of birth: 20/2/2001.

Position: Loose-forward.

Previous club: Widnes Vikings.

Son of former Wigan and Great Britain forward and current Sky TV pundit Terry O’Connor, the hard-working forward is an England academy player who joined Rhinos from Widnes at the start of last season. He featured on dual-registration for Featherstone Rovers early in 2020.

Liam Tindall.

Date of birth: 27/9/2001.

Previous club: East Leeds.

Position: Wing.

The strong-running teenager has risen through Leeds’ academy ranks to earn England honours. Originally a centre, he signed a three-year Rhinos cointract after impressing in training with the first team squad following lockdown.

Sam Walters

Date of birth: 25/12/2000.

Previous club: Widnes Vikings.

Position: Second-row.

Leeds signed Walters, an England academy player, from Widnes at the start of last season. He was academy player of the year in 2019, when he made his first team debut on loan at Batley Bulldogs.

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